As health insurers seek big rate hikes, worries about sustainability grow

Rhode Island’s health insurers are asking for the highest premium increases in more than a decade, saying the rate hikes are necessary to cover rising expenses, but observers are warning that the situation is becoming unsustainable. The R.I....

Pedestrian flown to Rhode Island Hospital after crash in Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — A pedestrian was flown to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries on Wednesday after being struck by a car in Bridgewater, police and fire officials said. Shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday, emergency crews responded to the...

Rhode Island state trooper released from hospital after breakdown lane crash

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A Rhode Island state trooper is now out of the hospital after he was injured in a crash on I-95 in Cranston. According to state police, the crash happened Tuesday afternoon on 95 south near the Laurens Street overpass. The...

Rhode Island Legislature Highlights Accomplishments for the 2025 Session

This year at the General Assembly – from the RI State House: Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this year. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Rhode Island General Assembly passes $14.34 billion budget despite federal uncertainties

The Rhode Island General Assembly approved a $14.34 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 on Friday (June 20), addressing significant financial challenges while prioritizing healthcare, housing, and municipal support despite looming federal...

Rhode Island state trooper injured in collision on Interstate 95 south in Cranston

CRANSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — A Rhode Island state trooper's truck was struck by a car on Interstate 95 south in Cranston Tuesday. Police said a state troopers assigned to the Commercial Enforcement Unit was conducting a roadside inspection of a...

Connecticut Attorney General reminds hospitals they must provide emergency abortion care

A letter was sent to the American Hospital Association as a reminder that hospitals must comply with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. HARTFORD, Connecticut — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is working to ensure that...

What We Have Learned from Rhode Island’s Harm Reduction Vending Machines

Our new study, published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, evaluates the two-year implementation of Rhode Island’s harm reduction vending machines (HRVMs) and their role alongside in-person harm reduction services. These...

Rhode Island General Assembly Wraps Up 2025 Session with Major Policy Changes Across Health, Housing, Labor, and More

PROVIDENCE, RI: The Rhode Island General Assembly concluded a busy 2025 legislative session with a sweeping array of new laws and funding boosts, touching nearly every corner of public life — from health care and housing to education,...

Food Action Plan Addresses Rhode Island’s 100K-Ton Problem

Costing Rhode Island taxpayers some $6.5 million annually, wasted food in landfills is also one of the leading producers of climate-changing methane emissions in the state. The Wasted Food Solutions Action Network (WFSAN), a statewide group under...

Rhode Island warns of unhealthy air quality due to high ozone levels

Terrence Gray, Director | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Agriculture and Forest EnvironmentTerrence Gray, Director | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Agriculture and Forest...

Rhode Island officials will tour the construction site new health laboratories

(WJAR) — Rhode Island officials are set to take a tour of the construction site for the state's new health laboratories on Tuesday. This is a preliminary look at the facilities at the 150 Richmond building in the I-195 District. It’s an 80,000...

Plan a short day trip on one of Rhode Island’s picturesque bike paths

Rhode Island has over 60 miles of paved bike paths Cyclists can travel from town to town on bike paths, making it a perfect summer activity for exploring and staying healthy PROVIDENCE – One of the joys of summer in Rhode Island is pulling out...

Rhode Island Commerce Collaborates with Saks Fifth Avenue to offer Luxury Shoppers a New Experience Highlighting the Ocean State

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhode Island Commerce — the official full-service, economic development organization for the state of Rhode Island—is proud to announce an exciting collaboration with the iconic, leading name...

Rhode Island Foundation offering grants to nonprofits that serve LGBTQ+ residents

Nonprofits that serve the state’s LGBTQ+ communities have until August 15 to apply for grants of up to $10,000 through the Equity Action Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation. “In times as challenging as these have become, supporting organizations...

Rhode Island Hospital workers authorize strike

Workers at Rhode Island, Hasbro Children's hospitals move toward strike

More than 2,500 Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital workers voted to authorize a strike after contract negotiations stalled. The union, UNAP Local 5098, is seeking lower health insurance costs, increased wages, and better...

Jamaican-born health leader Kavelle Christie named to Marquis Who’s Who

Kavelle Christie, a Jamaican-born health policy strategist and healthcare reform advocate, has been named a 2025 inductee of Marquis Who’s Who, a prestigious biographical registry that has chronicled the lives and achievements of accomplished...

State officials launch men’s mental health awareness effort

Are “You Good, Man?” is a question state health officials are asking men this month. Some men might not be. In this instance, it is connected with mental health awareness focused on men aged 25 to 65, who have some of the highest suicide death...

‘This is not a matter of opinion:’ State AGs instruct hospitals to continue providing emergency abortions despite state law

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...